Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 1281 - 1277: Clues

Chu Zhiyuan quietly drank tea in the small courtyard, observing the layout of the courtyard.

The unique aura of a woman was reflected in every part of the courtyard, elegant and unique, with meticulous design.

Lu Xiaolu had spent a lot of effort on this courtyard, especially the flower garden before him, filled with strange flowers, their fragrance lingering.

After a while, Lu Xiaolu returned, looking disappointed.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "No records of the Heaven-Reaching Sect?"

"There are, but they’re useless," Lu Xiaolu said.

Chu Zhiyuan’s spirit lifted, "What records?"

Lu Xiaolu said, "A disciple of the Heaven-Reaching Sect once appeared in our Biyuan Heaven but left quickly."

Chu Zhiyuan raised his eyebrows, "Not a sect of our Biyuan Heaven?"

Lu Xiaolu said, "Yes, it’s said to be a sect from another heaven, but it didn’t say which one. Anyway, once we reach this level, we know that there are many heavens, and each one’s heritage is different."

"Since it’s not a sect of our Biyuan Heaven, then was this secret technique left by that disciple? That shouldn’t be."

"Hmm..." Lu Xiaolu tilted her head in thought, slowly nodding in agreement, "If it were me, wandering to another place, I wouldn’t casually leave a secret technique behind either."

What is a secret technique? Of course, it is the most secret of secrets, absolutely not to be passed on to outsiders.

How could it be easily left to outsiders, especially in another heaven?

She exclaimed, "Junior brother, are you saying he died here with us? ... How did he die? Could he have been killed by masters from our side?"

"Hard to say." Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "If he left it of his own accord, then he should have also left the unique magic technique to cultivate this secret technique."

"That would be the way," Lu Xiaolu nodded, "Could it be he didn’t leave it... or the Court didn’t give it to you?"

"That shouldn’t be the case," Chu Zhiyuan said.

He said it shouldn’t be, yet he had long suspected that the Court was holding back something.

Such a small book of secret techniques involved too many complex games of maneuvering.

The Court’s intentions were always changing, hard to predict.

So rather than relying on the Court, better to rely on oneself, hence taking the initiative to search for clues.

"The Court isn’t above doing such things," Lu Xiaolu pouted.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "The Heaven-Reaching Sect..."

"Did you ask the other two sects?" Lu Xiaolu said.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, "The Sect Leader inquired, but found no clues."

"What to do then?" Lu Xiaolu frowned, "You can’t blindly practice, such secret techniques are very dangerous."

The more secret the technique, the more powerful and dangerous it is.

If not careful, it might lead to a setback, at worst losing one’s life.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "I’ll keep looking for clues."

"Are you thinking of practicing it?"

"No rush."

"Right, don’t rush to practice. If you do, do it here, use my Jade Bed."

She pointed her jade-like hand toward her bedroom.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, "No need, I’ll be careful."

"Then where will you practice?" Lu Xiaolu asked, "I’ll protect you."

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, "I won’t seclude myself for hard training, just take it slow, there’s no rush now."

"Is the Court still asking you to deal with the Undying Evil Venerable?"

"Yes."

"Hmph, that’s quite excessive!"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Idleness is still idleness, can’t just watch the Undying Evil Venerable harm the innocent."

"You, too kind-hearted!"

"Hehe..."

Chu Zhiyuan laughed.

He felt his face heat up, embarrassed to hear such words.

If it weren’t for merit and people’s hearts, and the Undying Golden Essence, would I really be so enthusiastic?

"I’ll have the Palace Master inquire again, let you know if there’s news."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded with a smile.

...

"Is it a trap from the Court?" Li Hongzhao frowned, "The Heaven-Reaching Sect... even Master hasn’t heard of it."

The sun set in the west

Chu Zhiyuan and Li Hongzhao sat in her small courtyard, drinking wine.

"Hard to say." Chu Zhiyuan lamented, "But no matter what, the secret technique is indeed quite exquisite."

Both sets of mental methods are extremely powerful, but also very dangerous.

He had been contemplating and studying, capturing the connections between them, finding common and opposing points.

"As time passes, if the Court is unable to deal with the Undying Evil Venerable, the people will blame you first," Li Hongzhao snorted, "You’ll become more anxious, unable to succeed, and might even go astray from anxiety, silently eliminating you as a threat."

"Without me as a threat, no one will handle the Undying Evil Venerable."

"Spirit Venerable, ah."

"Not so easy to invite a Spirit Venerable."

"It’s not as difficult as you think... In any case, be careful." She shook her head helplessly, "Unfortunately, I can’t help, the Da Meng Imperial Family’s library doesn’t have records of the Heaven-Reaching Sect."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

...

"Good news, I’ve found it!" Xiao Ruoling chuckled lightly, "Finally found records on the Heaven-Reaching Sect!"

At this moment, in Xiao Ruoling’s courtyard in the Profound Yin Palace, she hurriedly pushed the door open, her smile like a blossoming flower.

Chu Zhiyuan stood up in surprise, "Found it?"

"Yes, the Heaven-Reaching Sect is an Ancient Sect, its heritage is thin, and it drifts unpredictably, no one knows where exactly it belongs."

"Is its lineage broken?"

"That I don’t know," Xiao Ruoling shook her head, "There was a senior in the Profound Yin Palace who encountered a disciple of the Heaven-Reaching Sect and exchanged moves."

Chu Zhiyuan’s spirit lifted, "When?"

"Three thousand five hundred sixty-eight years ago," Xiao Ruoling said, "Unfortunately, that senior is now missing, very hard to find."

"Missing?"

"Yes, gone to some Secret Land perhaps, hasn’t returned in ages." Xiao Ruoling said, "There are too many places to go in the world."

"Is that senior dead or alive?"

"Still alive," Xiao Ruoling said, "If dead, her Xuan Guang Shuttle would have returned to the palace."

Chu Zhiyuan sighed, "Can’t wait too long... Any other records?"

"According to this senior’s notes, the Heaven-Reaching Sect’s expert’s mental method is profound, a mix of two strange mental methods, where illusion and reality intersect, constantly changing, impossible to guard against."

Chu Zhiyuan was lost in thought.

Xiao Ruoling said, "True Yuan injected into his body would be easily dissolved by him."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "One illusory, one real..."

He was very adept at the Path of Illusion and Reality, deeply understanding its wonders.

He had long considered practicing both together.

But by intuition, it remained dangerous, life-threatening.

Hearing this now confirmed the cultivation method.

Cultivating both is quite troublesome, determining speed, rhythm, and frequency.

Both are extremely powerful, highly dangerous arts; any mistake could lead to a setback, life-threatening.

But he had an extraordinary intuition; truly practicing might not be impossible.

Intuition told him it wouldn’t work, practicing it would be suicidal.

That implies there is another secret.

Without this secret, not possessing this key, is akin to suicide.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Did that senior leave anything of the opponent?"

"No records." Xiao Ruoling shook her head, "Also can’t find her, what now?"

"I’ll think of a way," Chu Zhiyuan said.

Xiao Ruoling asked, "Will you forcefully cultivate this secret technique?"

"Wait and see," Chu Zhiyuan said.

"Yes, wait," Xiao Ruoling agreed, "Recklessly cultivating is too dangerous. With your comprehension, husband, you’ll find a way."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, shaking his head.

Things were not going well at Fengtian Palace either.

The Tongtian Pavilion and the Heaven-Reaching Sect had no connection, merely similar names.